In This Issue:
NATCA Historical Committee: NATCA Conventions Part Two
With NATCA’s 18th Biennial Convention coming up Aug. 10-12 in Houston, we continue to look back on our past conventions. The National Historical Committee (NHC) is examining each of the previous conventions and the importance they have had in shaping our Union. These events bring together local delegates from across each of our 10 regions to vote on and decide the direction of our Union.  

NATCA’s conventions from 2000-2008 made great strides in building and expanding our Union and saw us weather some dark times. 

The 8th Biennial Convention in 2000, held in Anchorage, saw amendments passed that reflected NATCA’s growing diversity in representing members beyond air traffic control and bylaws to honor individuals for service to the Union. Diversification continued as a focus at the 9th Biennial Convention in Cleveland in 2002, with renaming the Engineers & Architects region to Region X (NRX), and allowing the National Executive Board to choose which bargaining units NRX would represent.

Della Swartz, retired NRX member of the NHC notes, “The formation of Region X was important, giving us a stronger voice at the national level and also demonstrating that our brothers and sisters in air traffic recognized and valued our differences.” 

In 2004, at the 10th Biennial Convention in St. Louis, there was debate over the seniority system and the first round of Natty Award recipients were announced (now named the Timmy Awards, short for the Tim Haines Memorial Award of Honor and Distinction). Discussion of the air traffic controllers contract negotiation impasse and impending White Book implementation took center stage at the 11th Biennial Convention in Boston in 2006, and seniority discussions continued. In 2008, at the 12th Biennial Convention in Miami, fighting for fair collective bargaining rights was a main discussion point as the negative toll of the White Book continued.

Please enjoy this Convention collection of our Union’s documents and history. Please click here.

To learn more about the NATCA Historical Committee, please click here.
Convention Update
For those attending the 18th Biennial Convention in Houston, to register or modify your registration please click here

There will be video coverage of the convention, both live and on demand, on the members side of natca.org. For more information about the convention, view our Biennial Convention webpage here.
NCF Announces its $25,000 Regional Charity Competition
Winning Region Announced at Communicating For Safety
The NATCA Charitable Foundation (NCF) is excited to announce its first $25,000 charity giveaway. 
 
How does it work?

1. Sign up to donate to NCF via the tax-deductible payroll deduction (1187) form or increase your per pay period amount that you already donate.  
 
2. Receive an opportunity to vote for one of three charities, selected for your region.
 
3. All three charities per region will receive a donation through NCF. The charity that receives the most votes in each region will receive a $1,500 donation. The other two charities in each region will each receive a donation of $250, totaling $2,000 in donations per region.
 
4. The winning region will be decided by the greatest percentage increase of NCF donations via payroll deductions based on the number of members in the region, to ensure fairness. 

5. The winning region's charities will receive an additional $5,000 donation through NCF--$3,500 additional for the charity with the most votes and $750 for the other two charities, totaling $7,000 in donations to the winning region. 

Sign up using this link and check out the charities that NCF currently supports in your region. The NATCA Charitable Foundation is YOUR charity. Show your support and make a difference today!
Take Your Mark and Participate in NCF's Virtual 5K Run
The Snowdrop Stampede is a virtual 5K run open to all members, families, and friends to support the NATCA Charitable Foundation (NCF) and the Snowdrop Foundation, which is working to eliminate childhood cancer.

The cost to participate is $35. Run at your place and your pace, and complete your run between Aug. 1-10. 

For those members coming to the 18th Biennial Convention next month, you can also do your run in Houston, either on one of the many treadmills in the gym at the Marriott Marquis, or on the street in downtown Houston. The Marriott Marquis has developed a map of two routes near the hotel that cover 5.1 and 1.5 miles, respectively. Click here for the map.

All registered participants will receive a Snowdrop 5K wristband and button to wear proudly during your run (if you register early enough to receive these items before the event). All participants will also have their finishing medals donated directly to the children battling cancer at the Texas Children's Cancer Center in Houston.

Register here, or text NCF5K to 76278.
Recognizing Some of the Unsung Heroes of NATCA: Mike Odryna
In celebration of the 34th anniversary of NATCA’s certification by the Federal Labor Relations Authority as the exclusive bargaining representative of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers, we continue our series looking at the unsung heroes of NATCA.
Throughout our history, NATCA’s growth and success has been marked by individual efforts of leadership, vision, and dedication that--joined together with other members’ work--lifted the Union into the best position to represent our members. Some of those individuals are widely known, but many are not. NATCA’s National Historical Committee looked through our Union’s history--early and recent--to identify examples of extraordinary efforts by NATCA members that may not be well known by our membership. In the third part of our series, we introduce you to Mike Odryna.
Odryna began his career in 1989 and spent all 30 years at Boston Center (ZBW). He represented the New England Region on Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issues starting in 1997 and chaired our OSHA Committee for the last 15 years of his career. In that role, he was instrumental in getting many of the current OSHA-related contract articles in place as well as using collaboration to encourage the Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Organization into adopting NATCA's interests directly into their own orders and policies. 

For example, Odryna was heavily involved in the inception of the Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental Compliance Committee (OSHECCOM) in 1996. This committee advises and assists management in implementing and monitoring safety and health programs, and provides a forum for information exchange. He was also instrumental last decade in encouraging facilities to increase the number of employees trained to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Who Are The Unsung Heroes in Your Facility?

Who are the outstanding, creative, driven members at your facility who are taking this Union forward? We want to know who your unsung heroes are and we need your help.

Let us know and tell us about what they are doing to lift up your local, and NATCA as a whole. Email us at [email protected]
Plan for Your Retirement Future with Financial Literacy Workshops
Whether you’re still building for your future in retirement or ready to put your retirement plan into action, one of the most important member benefits that NATCA provides its members is expert planning and guidance about your retirement. We are pleased to offer you in-person briefings provided by 4 Square Financial Literacy Partners, Inc. They are here with information to help you maximize your federal benefits to meet your retirement goals. Spouses are also encouraged to attend.

Use the NATCA Portal to register, portal.natca.org. Click on the “events” tab in the main menu at the top of the screen. 

For questions or any problems with registration, please contact NATCA Membership Services Coordinator Lisa Head at the National Office: 202-628-5451 or [email protected].
JULY
Denver
July 21: 3 - 9 p.m.
July 22: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Sacramento, Calif.
July 28: 3 - 9 p.m.
July 29: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
AUGUST
Albuquerque, N.M.
Aug. 4: 3 - 9 p.m.
Aug. 5: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Providence, R.I.
Aug. 25: 3 - 9 p.m.
Aug. 26: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
SEPTEMBER
Kansas City, Mo.
Sept. 8: 3 - 9 p.m.
Sept. 9: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Salt Lake City
Sept. 15: 3 - 9 p.m.
Sept. 16: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Miami
Sept. 22: 3 - 9 p.m.
Sept. 23: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
OCTOBER
San Antonio
Oct. 13: 3 - 9 p.m.
Oct. 14: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Fairbanks, Alaska
Oct. 20: 3 - 9 p.m.
Oct. 21: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Aurora, Ill.
Oct. 27: 3 - 9 p.m.
Oct. 28: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Chicago Region X
Oct. 29: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
NOVEMBER
Nashua, N.H.
Nov. 3: 3 - 9 p.m.
Nov. 4: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Islip, N.Y.
Nov. 10: 3 - 9 p.m.
Nov. 11: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Indianapolis
Nov. 17: 3 - 9 p.m.
Nov. 18: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Atlanta Region X
Nov. 30: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
DECEMBER
Atlanta
Dec. 1: 3 - 9 p.m.
Dec. 2: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Anchorage, Alaska
Dec. 1: 3 - 9 p.m.
Dec. 2: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Honolulu
Dec. 15: 3 - 9 p.m.
Dec. 16: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Member Benefit Spotlight:
Car Rentals
Do you have a business trip or vacation coming up, and find yourself in need of a rental car? Let NATCA Benefits and Union Plus make the decision easier for you. Your membership in NATCA earns you up to a 25% discount on a variety of vehicles. You also get to support your fellow union brothers and sisters who work for Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Hertz. Discounts are also available from Dollar and Thrifty. Click here and start your drive to save today. 
NATCA Store Item of the Month:
Water Bottle
Features of this productThis 24-oz. NATCA water bottle is perfect for all-day hydration. It's also American-made from start to finish.

Manufactured from 100% recyclable, high-grade aluminum, this bottle comes in both blue and red, features a 3D-printed NATCA logo on the front, and our “We Guide You Home” slogan on the back.

It also comes with a standard white cap. Select “Add Sports Straw,” when purchasing for additional white sports cap.

Price: $25-30.
 
To see the item and how to orderClick here. Select USPS or UPS as your shipping preference on your orders. To check on stock availability or for further assistance, call 800-266-0895 or email [email protected]
NATCA Supporting the Transformation of the
National Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is undergoing a complete transformation, including its exhibit about our nation’s air traffic control system. NATCA is one of the supporters of this exciting project, which will better connect and inform the public about U.S. aviation and aerospace and its proud history.

This month marks the 45th anniversary of the opening of the museum. The first phase of the 23 newly transformed galleries will open in 2022.

The advertisement below, mentioning NATCA, ran as a full-page ad in the July 4 issue of The Washington Post and will run later this year in the Smithsonian’s Air & Space magazine.
Union Members Feature:
National Taxi Workers Alliance
NATCA continues to highlight our union sisters and brothers who are also essential contributors across our nation's workforce, and also AFL-CIO affiliate unions. Today we highlight and thank our siblings of the National Taxi Workers Alliance (NTWA). 

NTWA is the only national union dedicated to the struggle of taxi workers--a majority immigrant workforce of over 200,000. In 2011, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance was chartered to build NTWA. NTWA currently has affiliates in New York City, Philadelphia, Austin, Montgomery County, and San Francisco, and active organizing drives in several cities. This national union fights for justice, rights, respect and dignity for the hundreds of thousands of licensed men and women who often labor 12 hour shifts with little pay and little protection in the "mobile sweatshops" of major metropolitan areas, according to the NTWA website. Learn more about this union and what they're doing to support their members. 
Come to CFS in September
Registration is ongoing for Communicating For Safety (CFS) 2021. We are returning to Bally's Las Vegas on Sept. 27-29 to bring together our members, representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, and leaders of the aviation community to discuss an array of safety and modernization topics. We’re working to fill the agenda with engaging panels and again make this the best safety conference on the aviation calendar. Click here to register.
Operation Traffic Counts Across the U.S.
NATCA | www.natca.org